Control device, control method, electric apparatus, control method of an electric apparatus, electric apparatus system, control method of an electric apparatus system, and transmission medium

ABSTRACT

Radio waves transmitted from the antenna of a broadcasting station are received by the antenna of a television receiver. The television receiver extracts an EPG from the received radio waves and transmits it to a remote controller via an infrared transmission/reception section. The remote controller displays the received EPG on a LCD and is then rendered in a state of waiting for selection of a program. If some program is selected and then a reserve button is manipulated, the remote controller transmits a control command for a recording reservation to a video tape recorder. The video tape recorder receives the control command with an infrared transmission/reception section, whereby the recording reservation of the designated program is set.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a controlmethod, an electric apparatus, a control method of an electricapparatus, an electric apparatus system, a control method of an electricapparatus system, and a transmission medium, and, more specifically, tothose of a kind in which information to which additional information isadded is exchanged.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Conventionally, in recording a desired program with a VTR (videotape recorder), it is necessary to input, through a manipulating sectionof the VTR, a broadcast start time and end time and a broadcast channelnumber of the intended program by, for instance, referring to a programpage of a newspaper, a magazine, or the like.

[0003] Further, to store useful information included in an advertisement(commercial) message or the like that is received by a televisionreceiver, it is necessary for a user to make notes on a sheet or thelike.

[0004] In each of the above cases, the user needs to temporarilymemorize necessary information and then make inputs through themanipulating section of the VTR or make notes on a sheet or the like.This causes problems that he may inadvertently inputs erroneousinformation and that he may forget useful information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the abovecircumstances in the art, and an object of the present invention istherefore to make it possible to control an electric apparatus such as aVTR or a television receiver or to record useful information withoutrequiring a user to temporarily memorize information.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided acontrol device which controls, by transmitting a control signal to it,an electric apparatus that receives information transmitted via atransmission medium, comprising transmitting means for transmitting thecontrol signal to the electric apparatus; receiving means for receivingadditional information that has been extracted from the receivedinformation and transmitted by the electric apparatus; and output meansfor outputting the additional information received by the receivingmeans to a display device.

[0007] There is provided a control method for controlling, bytransmitting a control signal to it, an electric apparatus that receivesinformation transmitted via a transmission medium, comprising atransmitting step of transmitting the control signal to the electricapparatus; a receiving step of receiving additional information that hasbeen extracted from the received information and transmitted by theelectric apparatus; and an output step of outputting the additionalinformation received in the receiving step to a display device.

[0008] There is provided a transmission medium for transmitting acomputer program that is used in a control device which controls, bytransmitting a control signal to it, an electric apparatus that receivesinformation transmitted via a transmission medium, the computer programcomprising a transmitting step of transmitting the control signal to theelectric apparatus; a receiving step of receiving additional informationthat has been extracted from the received information and transmitted bythe electric apparatus; and an output step of outputting the additionalinformation received in the receiving step to a display device.

[0009] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is providedan electric apparatus which receives information that is transmitted viaa transmission medium and performs an operation in accordance with acontrol signal that is transmitted from a control device, comprisingfirst receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted fromthe control device; control means for performing a control in accordancewith the control signal received by the first receiving means; secondreceiving means for receiving the information transmitted via thetransmission medium; extracting means for extracting additionalinformation from the information received by the second receiving means;and transmitting means for transmitting the additional informationextracted by the extracting means to the control device.

[0010] There is provided a control method of an electric apparatus whichreceives information that is transmitted via a transmission medium andperforms an operation in accordance with a control signal that istransmitted from a control device, comprising a first receiving step ofreceiving the control signal transmitted from the control device; acontrol step of performing a control in accordance with the controlsignal received in the first receiving step; a second receiving step ofreceiving the information transmitted via the transmission medium; anextracting step of extracting additional information from theinformation received in the second receiving step; and a transmittingstep of transmitting the additional information extracted in theextracting step to the control device.

[0011] There is provided a transmission medium for transmitting acomputer program used in an electric apparatus which receivesinformation that is transmitted via a transmission medium and performsan operation in accordance with a control signal that is transmittedfrom a control device, the computer program comprising a first receivingstep of receiving the control signal transmitted from the controldevice; a control step of performing a control in accordance with thecontrol signal received in the first receiving step; a second receivingstep of receiving the information transmitted via the transmissionmedium; an extracting step of extracting additional information from theinformation received in the second receiving step; and a transmittingstep of transmitting the additional information extracted in theextracting step to the control device.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is providedan electric apparatus system comprising an electric apparatus whichreceives information that is transmitted via a transmission medium and acontrol device which controls the electric apparatus by transmitting acontrol signal to the electric apparatus, the electric apparatuscomprising first receiving means for receiving the control signaltransmitted from the control device; control means for performing acontrol in accordance with the control signal received by the firstreceiving means; second receiving means for receiving the informationtransmitted via the transmission medium; extracting means for extractingadditional information from the information received by the secondreceiving means; and first transmitting means for transmitting theadditional information extracted by the extracting means to the controldevice, the control device comprising second transmitting means fortransmitting the control signal to the electric apparatus; thirdreceiving means for receiving the additional information transmittedfrom the first transmitting means of the electric apparatus; and outputmeans for outputting the additional information received by the thirdreceiving means to a display device.

[0013] There is provided a control method of an electric apparatussystem comprising an electric apparatus which receives information thatis transmitted via a transmission medium and a control device whichcontrols the electric apparatus by transmitting a control signal to theelectric apparatus, an electric-apparatus-side part of the controlmethod comprising a first receiving step of receiving the control signaltransmitted from the control device; a control step of performing acontrol in accordance with the control signal received in the firstreceiving step; a second receiving step of receiving the informationtransmitted via the transmission medium; an extracting step ofextracting additional information from the information received in thesecond receiving step; and a first transmitting step of transmitting theadditional information extracted in the extracting step to the controldevice, a control-device-side part of the control method comprising asecond transmitting step of transmitting the control signal to theelectric apparatus; a third receiving step of receiving the additionalinformation transmitted in the first transmitting step of theelectric-apparatus-part of the control method; and an output step ofoutputting the additional information received in the third receivingstep to a display device.

[0014] There is provided a transmission medium for transmitting acomputer program used in an electric apparatus system comprising anelectric apparatus which receives information that is transmitted via atransmission medium and a control device which controls the electricapparatus by transmitting a control signal to the electric apparatus, anelectric-apparatus-side part of the computer program comprising a firstreceiving step of receiving the control signal transmitted from thecontrol device; a control step of performing a control in accordancewith the control signal received in the first receiving step; a secondreceiving step of receiving the information transmitted via thetransmission medium; an extracting step of extracting additionalinformation from the information received in the second receiving step;and a first transmitting step of transmitting the additional informationextracted in the extracting step to the control device, acontrol-device-side part of the computer program comprising a secondtransmitting step of transmitting the control signal to the electricapparatus; a third receiving step of receiving the additionalinformation transmitted in the first transmitting step of theelectric-apparatus-part of the control method; and an output step ofoutputting the additional information received in the third receivingstep to a display device.

[0015] In the above-described control device, control method, andtransmission medium according to the first aspect of the invention, acontrol signal is transmitted to the electric apparatus, additionalinformation that has been extracted from received information andtransmitted by the electric apparatus is received, and the receivedadditional information is output to the display device. For example, acontrol signal that has been input by a user through an input section istransmitted to the electric apparatus. An EPG as additional informationthat has been extracted from received information and transmitted by theelectric apparatus is received. The received additional information isoutput to an LCD as the display device.

[0016] In the above-described electric apparatus, control method of anelectric apparatus, and transmission medium according to the secondaspect of the invention, a control signal transmitted from the controldevice is received, a control is performed in accordance with thereceived control signal, information transmitted via the transmissionmedium is received, additional information is extracted from thereceived information, and the extracted additional information istransmitted to the control device. For example, a control signal thathas been input by a user and transmitted from the control device isreceived. The respective sections of the electric apparatus iscontrolled in accordance with the received control signal. Informationsuch as a television broadcast program transmitted via the transmissionmedium is received. An EPG as additional information is extracted fromthe received information. The extracted EPG is transmitted to thecontrol device.

[0017] In the above-described electric apparatus system, control methodof an electric apparatus system, and transmission medium according tothe third aspect of the invention, on the electric apparatus side, acontrol signal transmitted from the control device is received, acontrol is performed in accordance with the received control signal,information transmitted via the transmission medium is received,additional information is extracted from the received information, andthe extracted additional information is transmitted to the controldevice. On the control device side, a control signal is transmitted tothe electric apparatus, additional information transmitted from theelectric apparatus is received, and the received additional informationis output to the display device. For example, on the electric apparatusside, a control signal that has been input by a user and transmittedfrom the control device is received. The respective sections of theelectric apparatus is controlled in accordance with the received controlsignal. Information such as a television broadcast program transmittedvia the transmission medium is received. An EPG as additionalinformation is extracted from the received information. The extractedEPG is transmitted to the control device. On the control device side, acontrol signal that has been input by a user through an input section istransmitted to the electric apparatus. An EPG as additional informationtransmitted from the electric apparatus is received. The receivedadditional information is output to an LCD as the display device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 shows an example configuration of an embodiment accordingto the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 shows an appearance of a remote controller 1 shown in FIG.1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof the remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof the personal computer 3 shown in FIG. 1

[0022]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof a television receiver 9 shown in FIG. 1;

[0023]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof a VTR 13 shown in FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of operation that isperformed by the remote controller 1 of FIG. 3;

[0025]FIG. 8 shows a data structure of an EPG;

[0026]FIG. 9 shows an example of a picture displayed on an LCD if as aresult of execution of step S8 shown in FIG. 7;

[0027]FIG. 10 is a flowchart of another example of operation that isperformed by the remote controller 1 of FIG. 3;

[0028]FIG. 11 is an example of a picture to be displayed on the LCD ifas a result of execution of step S31 shown in FIG. 10;

[0029]FIG. 12 is a flowchart of still another example of operation thatis performed by the remote controller 1 of FIG. 3;

[0030]FIG. 13 shows an example of a picture that is displayed on the LCDif as a result of execution of step S53 shown in FIG. 12; and

[0031]FIG. 14 shows an example of a picture that is displayed on a CRTmonitor 4 of the personal computer 3 as a result of execution of stepS57 shown in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example configuration of anembodiment according to the present invention.

[0033] In FIG. 1, a remote controller 1 converts a control signal thatis input from a manipulating section (described later) into an infraredsignal and transmits it to an electric apparatus (personal computer 3,television receiver 9, or VTR 13) as a subject of control. Further, theremote controller 1 receives additional information that is transmittedfrom the electric apparatus.

[0034] An IC card 2 (storing means) is inserted into the remotecontroller 1, and stores advertisement information such as couponinformation when it is supplied.

[0035] The personal computer 3 is connected to a server 8 via a network7 such as the Internet, and exchanges prescribed information with theserver 8. A CRT monitor 4 displays information generated by the personalcomputer 3, information supplied from the server 8 via the network 7, orother information.

[0036] A mouse 5 is manipulated by a user when he inputs someinformation. An infrared transmission/reception section 6 (firstreceiving means, transmitting means, first transmitting means)transmits/receives a control signal and additional information to/fromthe remote controller 1 via infrared light.

[0037] The television receiver 9 receives, with an antenna 11, radiowaves that are transmitted from an antenna 12 of a broadcasting station,extract a signal on a desired channel, and displays it. Further, thetelevision receiver 9 transmits/receives, with an infraredtransmission/reception section 10 (first receiving means, transmittingmeans, first transmitting means), a control signal and additionalinformation to/from the remote controller 1 via infrared light.

[0038] The VTR 13 records a video signal that is supplied from thetelevision receiver 9 on a video tape (hereinafter abbreviated as “VT”)and reproduces a video signal recorded on the VT. Further, the VTR 13transmits/receives, with an infrared transmission/reception section 14(first receiving means, transmitting means, first transmitting means), acontrol signal and additional information to/from the remote controller1 via infrared light.

[0039]FIG. 2 shows an appearance of the remote controller 1 shown inFIG. 1.

[0040] A speaker 1 j (notifying means) generates beep sound or the liketo call the user's attention. A LCD (liquid crystal display) If displaysadditional information etc. that are transmitted from the personalcomputer 3 or the television receiver 9.

[0041] A LED (light-emitting diode) 100 is turned on when an informationcommunication is made with the electric apparatus, to prevent an eventthat the user directs the remote controller 1 to a direction that goesoff the electric apparatus (personal computer 3, television receiver 9,or VTR 13) during the information communication to disable thecommunication.

[0042] A power button 101 is manipulated is manipulated to turn on oroff the power of the subject electric apparatus by remote control.

[0043] A transfer button 102 is manipulated in transferring(transmitting) prescribed information to the electric apparatus. Anacquire button 103 is manipulated in acquiring (receiving) desiredinformation that is displayed on the display section of the electricapparatus.

[0044] An erase button 104 is manipulated in erasing information that isrecorded on the IC card 2. Conversely, the store button 105 ismanipulated in recording prescribed information on the IC card 2.

[0045] A reserve button 108 is manipulated in making a recordingreservation on the VTR 13. A correct button 107 is manipulated incorrect information relating to a recording reservation already made. Aconfirmation button 106 is manipulated in confirming informationrelating to a recording reservation already made.

[0046] Numeral buttons 111-120 are manipulated in, for example, changingthe reception channel of the television receiver 9.

[0047] An R-button 109 is manipulated in changing a setting content. AnL-button 110 is manipulated to decide about an input command or thelike. A cruciform button 121 is manipulated to move the cursor upward,downward, rightward, or leftward.

[0048]FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof the remote controller 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0049] In FIG. 3, a CPU la controls the respective sections of thedevice and performs various operations and the like. A ROM 1 b storesvarious programs, data, and the like. A RAM 1 c (second storing means)temporarily stores interim data, programs, etc. when the CPU la performsvarious operations.

[0050] An interface (IF) Id (output means) converts data in accordancewith the data expression form in each of devices (infraredtransmission/reception section 1 e etc.) connected thereto to enable adata exchange between the CPU 1 a and the device.

[0051] The infrared transmission/reception section 1 e (transmittingmeans, receiving means, second transmitting means, third receivingmeans) exchanges information with the electric apparatus via infraredlight. That is, the infrared transmission/reception section 1 etransmits infrared light based on data that is supplied from the IF 1 d,and also receives infrared light that has been transmitted from theelectric apparatus, converts it into a corresponding electrical signal,and outputs it to the CPU 1 a via the IF 1 d.

[0052] The LCD If displays an image signal that is supplied from the IF1 d. A timer 1 g keeps date and time.

[0053] An input section 1 h (selecting means, second selecting means) ismanipulated when the user inputs a prescribed control command or thelike, and is specifically the manipulation buttons shown in FIG. 2, forinstance. An IC card recording/reproduction section 1 i recordsinformation on the IC card 2 and reads out recorded informationtherefrom.

[0054]FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a example configuration of thepersonal computer 3 shown in FIG. 1.

[0055] In FIG. 4, a CPU 3 a (control means, extracting means) controlsthe respective sections of the apparatus and performs various operationsand the like. A ROM 3 b stores various programs, data, and the like. ARAM 3 c temporarily stores interim data, programs, etc. when the CPU 3 aperforms various operations.

[0056] An interface (IF) 3 e converts data in accordance with the dataexpression form in each of devices (CRT monitor 4, input device 5, andinfrared transmission/reception section 6) connected thereto to enable adata exchange between the CPU 3 a and the device.

[0057] The CRT monitor 4 displays, as an image, RGB signals that areoutput from the personal computer 3. The input device 5 is, forinstance, a mouse (or keyboard) shown in FIG. 1, and is manipulated whenthe user inputs some information.

[0058] The infrared transmission/reception section 6 exchangesinformation with the remote controller 1 via infrared light. That is,the infrared transmission/reception section 6 transmits infrared lightbased on data that is supplied from the IF 3 e, and also receivesinfrared light that has been transmitted from the remote controller 1,converts it into a corresponding electrical signal, and outputs it tothe CPU 3 a via the IF 3 e.

[0059]FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof the television receiver 9 shown in FIG. 1.

[0060] In FIG. 5, a CPU 9 a (control means, extracting means) controlsthe respective sections of the apparatus and performs various operationsand the like. A ROM 9 b stores various programs, data, and the like. ARAM 9 c temporarily stores interim data, programs, etc. when the CPU 9 aperforms various operations.

[0061] An interface (IF) 9 d converts data in accordance with the dataexpression form in each of devices (TV tuner 9 e, input section 9 g, andinfrared transmission/reception section 10) connected thereto to enablea data exchange between the CPU 9 a and the device.

[0062] The TV tuner 9 e (second receiving means) extracts a signal of aselected channel from radio waves that have been transmitted from abroadcasting station and received by the antenna 11, and causes adisplay section (CRT: cathode-ray tube) 9 f to display it. Further, theTV tuner 9 e extracts an EPG (electronic program guide), advertisementinformation (including coupon information, a URL, or the like), or likeinformation that is included in broadcast waves, and supplies it to theIF 9 d as text data. A reception channel of the TV tuner 9 e is selectedin accordance with a control signal that is supplied from the CPU 9 avia the IF 9 d.

[0063] The input section 9 g is constituted of, for instance, channelselection buttons, volume buttons (not shown), etc., and is manipulatedwhen the user inputs some information.

[0064] The infrared transmission/reception section 10 exchangesinformation with the remote controller 1 via infrared light. That is,the infrared transmission/reception section 10 generates and transmitsinfrared light based on data that is supplied from the IF 9 d, and alsoreceives infrared light that has been transmitted from the remotecontroller 1, converts it into a corresponding electrical signal, andoutputs it to the CPU 9 a via the IF 9 d.

[0065]FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed example configurationof the VTR 13 shown in FIG. 1.

[0066] In FIG. 6, a CPU 13 a (control means, extracting means) controlsthe respective sections of the apparatus and performs various operationsand the like. A ROM 13 b stores various programs, data, and the like. ARAM 13 c temporarily stores interim data, programs, etc. when the CPU 13a performs various operations.

[0067] An interface (IF) 13 d converts data in accordance with the dataexpression form in each of devices (VT recording/playback section 13 e,input section 13 f, timer 13 g, and infrared transmission/receptionsection 14) connected thereto to enable a data exchange between the CPU13 a and the device.

[0068] For example, the VT recording/playback section 13 e (secondreceiving means) records a video signal that is supplied from thetelevision receiver 9 on a VT 13 h, and also reproduces a video signalthat is recorded on the VT 13 h and outputs it to the televisionreceiver 9.

[0069] The input section 13 f is constituted of, for instance, a recordbutton, a playback button, a stop button (not shown), etc., and ismanipulated when the user inputs some information.

[0070] The timer 13 g keeps date and time.

[0071] The infrared transmission/reception section 14 exchangesinformation with the remote controller 1 via infrared light. That is,the infrared transmission/reception section 14 generates and transmitsinfrared light based on data that is supplied from the IF 13 d, and alsoreceives infrared light that has been transmitted from the remotecontroller 1, converts it into a corresponding electrical signal, andoutputs it to the CPU 13 a via the IF 13 d.

[0072] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described withreference to a flow chart of FIG. 7.

[0073]FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of a process that isexecuted by the CPU 1 a of the remote controller 1 in acquiring, withthe remote controller 1, an EPG that has been transmitted from theantenna 12 of a broadcasting station and received by the televisionreceiver 9.

[0074] Upon activation of this process, at step S1, the CPU 1 a of theremote controller 1 judges whether the acquire button 103 has beendepressed. If it is judged that the acquire button 103 has not beendepressed (No), the process returns to step S1. This operation isrepeated until depression of the acquire button 103. If it is judgedthat the acquire button 103 has been depressed (Yes), the process goesto step S2.

[0075] At step S2, the CPU 1 a turns on the LED 100 to indicate thatinformation is being transferred. The process then goes to step S3.

[0076] At step S3, the CPU 1 a supplies a prescribed control signal tothe infrared transmission/reception section 1 e. As a result, theinfrared transmission/reception section 1 e generates an infrared signalcorresponding to the control signal and transmits it to the televisionreceiver 9. The television receiver 9 receives the transmitted infraredsignal with the infrared transmission/reception section 10, andreproduces the control signal. The CPU 9 a of the television receiver 9temporarily stores, in the RAM 9 c or the like, an EPG being received bythe TV tuner 9 e in accordance with the control signal that has beenreceived by the infrared transmission/reception section 10, and thentransmits it to the remote controller 1 via the infraredtransmission/reception section 10.

[0077]FIG. 8 shows an example of a data structure of an EPG. As shown inFIG. 8, an EPG is formed in such a manner that a plurality of (in thisexample, four) data blocks are linked to each other. The first block(leftmost block in FIG. 8) consists of a broadcast tag No. 200indicating a broadcast number, data 201 indicating a broadcast time andchannel, and a program tag No. 202 indicating a block that follows thefirst block.

[0078] The second block consists of a program tag No. 203 for a link tothe first block, data 204 indicating a program title, a performer tagNo. 205 indicating the third block, and a content tag No. 206 indicatingthe fourth block.

[0079] The third block (shown at a top-right position in FIG. 8)consists of a performer tag No. 207 for a link to the second block, data208 indicating performer names, and data 209 indicating performerinformation.

[0080] The fourth block (shown at a bottom-right position in FIG. 8)consists of a content tag No. 210 for a link to the second block anddata 211 indicating program contents.

[0081] For example, the above information is transmitted from abroadcasting station in a state that it is superimposed on a videosignal in vertical flyback periods.

[0082] Returning to FIG. 7, at step S4, the CPU 1 a of the remotecontroller 1 scores the received EPG in a prescribed area of the RAM 1c. When the entire EPG has been stored, the process goes to step S5.

[0083] At step S5, the CPU 1 a turns off the LED 100 to indicate thatthe information transfer has finished. The process then goes to step S6.

[0084] At step S6, the CPU 1 a recognizes a channel number of currentreception. That is, the CPU 1 a transmits a prescribed control signalfrom the infrared transmission/reception section 1 e, and recognizes achannel number of current reception by referring to informationindicating it that is transmitted in response.

[0085] Instead of directly inquiring of the television receiver 9, achannel number of current reception may be recognized by referring topart of the numeral buttons 111-120 that was depressed immediatelybefore for channel selection.

[0086] At step S7, the CPU 1 a recognizes the present time by acquiringinformation indicating it from the timer 1 g via the IF 1 d. The processthen goes to step S8.

[0087] At step S8, the CPU 1 a causes the LCD If to display an EPG ofprograms to be broadcast from this time onward on the channel of currentreception. Specifically, the CPU 1 a searches EPGs (guides for programsto be broadcast on the day on all channels) stored in the RAM 1 c fordata relating to program to be broadcast from this time onward on thechannel of current reception by referring to the channel of currentreception and the present time recognized at steps S6 and S7, and thencauses the LCD 1 f to display the data obtained.

[0088]FIG. 9 shows an example of an EPG to be displayed on the LCD If asa result of the above operation.

[0089] In this example, an EPG of programs to be broadcast from thistime onward on channel 10. Specifically, the EPG shows that “ABB News”will be broadcast from 6:00 to 6:30 and “Be Disgraced in Quiz Show” willbe broadcast from 6:30 to 7:00. The EPG also shows that “TV Scramble”will be broadcast from 7:00 to 8:00, “Monico Grand Prix” will be donefrom 8:00 to 9:00, “Creation of All Things” will be done from 9:00 to10:00, “News Station Eyes” will be done from 10:00 to 11:30, and“Conductors in the World” will be done from 11:30 to 12:00.

[0090] The above embodiment makes it possible to acquire, with theremote controller 1, an EPG that has been received by the televisionreceiver 9 and display it on the LCD 1 f. Therefore, for example, evenwhile the user watches some broadcast program on the television receiver9, he can check programs to be broadcast from this time onward by usingan EPG without obstructing the display of the television receiver 9.

[0091] Although in the above embodiment only an EPG relating to programsto be broadcast from this time onward on the channel of currentreception, EPGs of all programs to be broadcast on all channels, forexample, may be displayed. Further, a modification is possible whichallows the user to select an EPG that he wants to display by apredetermined manipulation.

[0092] Next, with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 10, a descriptionwill be made of an example of a process for making a recordingreservation on the VTR 13, by using the display example of FIG. 9.

[0093]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process of making arecording reservation on the VTR 13 by using the remote controller 1that has acquired the EPG.

[0094] Upon activation of the process of FIG. 10, at step S30, the CPU 1a of the remote controller 1 judges whether some program has beenselected on the display picture of FIG. 9. Specifically, the CPU 1 ajudges whether the L-button 110 for deciding about a selection has beendepressed after the cruciform button 121 shown in FIG. 2 was manipulatedand some program was selected by the cursor (not shown) on the displaypicture shown in FIG. 9. If the CPU 1 a has judged that no program hasbeen selected (No), the process returns to step S30 to repeat the aboveoperation. If it is judged at step S30 that some program has beenselected (Yes), the process goes to step S31.

[0095] Now, assume that the item “10:00-11:30 News Station Eyes” that isdisplayed on the sixth line on the display picture of FIG. 9 wasselected by the cruciform button 121 and then the L-button 110 wasdepressed, a judgment “Yes” is made at step S30 and the process goes tostep S31.

[0096] At step S31, the program title and the broadcast time aredisplayed. Specifically, the CPU 1 a reads out, from the RAM 1 c, theprogram title, start and end time, performers (in this case, anchormen), and contents and has those displayed on the LCD 1 f.

[0097]FIG. 11 shows an example of a picture to be displayed when theprogram “10:00-11:30 News Station Eyes,” which is shown on the sixthline on the display example of FIG. 9, is selected. In this displayexample, the title “News Station Eyes” of the selected program is shownat the top of the picture. The broadcast start time “10:00” and end time“11:30” are shown under the title. The names of anchor men “TetsuyaKume” and “Etsuo Komiya” are shown thereunder. Further, program contents“Up-to-the-minute Reports of Election Returns,” “Preventive Measuresagainst O158,” and “Does Life Exist on Mars?” are shown thereunder.

[0098] Returning to FIG. 10, at step S32, the CPU 1 a judges whether thetransfer button 102 has been depressed. If it is judged that thetransfer button 102 has not been depressed (No), the process returns tostep S32 to repeat the same operation until depression of the transferbutton 102. If it is judged that the transfer button 102 has beendepressed (Yes), the process goes to step S33.

[0099] At step S33, the CPU 1 a transmits a prescribed control signal asan instruction for a recording reservation and the information relatingto the program selected at step S30, that is, the broadcast start andend time and the broadcast channel number, to the VTR 13 via theinfrared transmission/reception section 1 e. The CPU 13 a of the VTR 13captures, via the IF 13 d, the signal received by the infraredtransmission/reception section 14, and stores it in the RAM 13 c.

[0100] Assume that the transfer button 102 is depressed at this timepoint. A judgment of “Yes” is made at step S32, and the process goes tostep S33. At step S33, a control command as an instruction for arecording reservation and the information (the broadcast start time andend time and the broadcast channel number) relating to the sixth program“News Station Eyes” that was designated on the picture of FIG. 9 aretransmitted to the VRT 13.

[0101] At step S34, it is judged whether the reserve button 108 has beendepressed. If the reserve button 108 has not been depressed (No), theprocess returns to step S34 to repeat the same operation untildepression of the reserve button 108. If it is judged that the reservebutton 108 has been depressed (YES), the process goes to step S35.

[0102] At step S35, the CPU la transmits a decision command for decidingabout the recording reservation for which the instruction was made atstep S33, to the VTR 13 via the infrared transmission/reception section6. The CPU 13 a of the VTR 13 receives this command via the infraredtransmission/reception section 14, whereby the recording reservationrelating to the information stored in the RAM 13 c is finally set. Whenthe time that is kept by the timer 13 g becomes the broadcast start timethat is stored in the RAM 13 c, the CPU 13 a sends a control signal tothe VT recording/playback section 13 e to start recording of the programwhose broadcast channel number is stored in the RAM 13 c. When the timethat is kept by the timer 13 g becomes the broadcast end time that isstored in the RAM 13 c, the CPU 13 a sends a control signal to the VTrecording/playback section 13 e to finish the recording of the program.

[0103] Assume that the reserve button 108 is depressed at this timepoint. A judgment of “Yes” is made at step S34 and the process goes tostep S35. At step S35, a decision command is transmitted from the remotecontroller 1 to the VTR 13, whereby a recording reservation of theprogram “News Station Eyes” for which the related information has beentransmitted is finally set.

[0104] In the above embodiment, a desired program is selected from anEPG that has been acquired by the remote controller 1 and a recordingreservation is made on the VTR 13 by using information relating to theprogram. Therefore, it becomes possible to eliminate the time and laborof inputting information such as a broadcast start time and end time anda broadcast channel number to the VTR 13 or the remote controller 1.

[0105] Although the above embodiment is directed to the case where anEPG is received by the remote controller 1, the invention is not limitedto such a case. For example, advertisement information may be receivedby the remote controller 1. Such an embodiment will be described belowwith reference to a flowchart of FIG. 12.

[0106]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of a process that isexecuted in the remote controller 1 when advertisement information thathas been received by the television receiver 9 is transferred to theremote controller 1.

[0107] In this embodiment, the television receiver 9 is so configured asto extract advertisement information that is inserted, for instance,between programs and to automatically transmit it to the remotecontroller 1.

[0108] Upon activation of this process, at step S50, the CPU 1 a of theremote controller 1 judges whether advertisement (commercial)information has been received from the television receiver 9. That is,when receiving commercial information in, for instance, a period betweenprograms, the infrared transmission/reception section 10 automaticallytransmits it to the remote controller 1.

[0109] Examples of commercial information are information such as theproduct name, features, and price of a commodity, and the URL and couponinformation of a company that manufactures or sells a commodity.

[0110] At step S51, beep sound indicating reception of commercialinformation is generated. That is, the CPU 1 a sends a predeterminedsignal to the speaker 1 j via the IF 1 d, and beep sound is therebygenerated. As a result, the user knows that commercial information hasbeen received.

[0111] At step S52, the CPU 1 a stores the commercial information thatwas received at step S50 in the RAM 1 c. The process then goes to stepS53.

[0112] At step S53, the CPU 1 a reads out the commercial informationthat is stored in the RAM 1 c and causes the LCD 1 f to display it.

[0113]FIG. 13 shows an example of a picture that is displayed on the LCD1 f as a result of execution of step S53. In this example, it is shownat the top of the picture that this is a display of commercialinformation relating to TONY's digital still camera. A product name“DSC-100” of the commodity as a subject of advertisement is shown on thesecond line.

[0114] Features of the commodity are listed under the product name. Inthis example, “Business Card Size,” “One Million Pixels,” “Capable ofTaking 1,000 Pictures at the Maximum,” and “Also Capable of RecordingSound” are shown. The price of the product “¥39,800” is shownthereunder.

[0115] “Now, 10%-discount Is Available with Coupon!” is shown under theprice, which means that this commercial information includes couponinformation.

[0116] Commercial information may include coupon information asaccompanying information. In such a case, the coupon information istransmitted from the television receiver 9 to the remote controller 1together with the commercial information and then stored in the RAM 1 c.

[0117] Returning to FIG. 13, a URL “www.tony.com” of the company thatmanufactures or sells this commodity is shown on the last line. Likecoupon information, URL information of this kind is transmitted, asaccompanying information, from the television receiver 9 to the remotecontroller 1 together with commercial information and then stored in theRAM 1 c.

[0118] Returning to FIG. 12, at step S54, it is judged whether the storebutton 105, which is to be manipulated in storing coupon informationthat is included in commercial information in the IC card 2, hasdepressed. If it is judged that the store button 105 has not beendepressed (No), the process goes to step S56 skipping step S55.

[0119] At step S55, the CPU 1 a extracts the coupon information that isincluded in the commercial information and supplies it to the IC cardrecording/reproduction section 1 i. The IC card recording/reproductionsection 1 i records the received coupon information in a prescribed areaof the IC card 2. By bringing the IC card 2 on which the couponinformation of the commodity is recorded to, for instance, a properstore, the commodity can be purchased at a lower price than the ordinaryprice.

[0120] At the next step S56, it is judged whether the transfer button102 has been depressed. If it is judged that the transfer button 102 hasnot been depressed (No), the process skips step S57 and ends. If it isjudged that the transfer button 102 has been depressed (Yes), theprocess goes to step S57.

[0121] Specifically, to access the homepage having as an address the URLthat is shown at the last line of the picture of FIG. 13, the usermanipulates the transfer button 102 after directing the remotecontroller 1 to the personal computer 3. As a result, a judgment of“Yes” is made at step S56 and the process goes to step S57.

[0122] At step S57, the CPU 1 a reads out the URL included in thecommercial information that is stored in the RAM 1 c and supplies it tothe infrared transmission/reception section 1 e. The infraredtransmission/reception section 1 e converts the received URL into acorresponding infrared signal and transmits it.

[0123] The URL that has been transmitted in this manner is received bythe infrared transmission/reception section 6 of the personal computer 3and supplied to the CPU 3 a. The CPU 3 a transmits the URL to thenetwork 7 via the modem section 3 d (second receiving means). As aresult, a communication circuit is established with a server 8corresponding to the transmitted URL and allows a communication betweenthe personal computer 3 and the server 8.

[0124]FIG. 14 shows an example of a picture that is displayed on the CRTmonitor 4 of the personal computer 3 when step S57 is executed.

[0125] In this display example, “Internet Skimmer” that is the name ofsoftware used (for information exchange via the network 7) is shown atthe top of the picture. The URL “www.tony.com” that has been transferredfrom the remote controller 1 at step S57 is shown in the frame locatedunder the software name.

[0126] An image that has been transmitted from the server 8 after theestablishment of the communication circuit is shown in the window thatis shown under the above-mentioned frame. In this display example, acatch phrase, features, the name, the price, an image, etc. of theproduct DSC-100 for which display is made on the LCD 1 f of the remotecontroller 1 are displayed.

[0127] The process of the CPU 1 a ends when step S57 is completed.

[0128] In the above embodiment, commercial information that is includedin broadcast waves received by the television receiver 9 isautomatically transmitted to the remote controller 1. Therefore, whenthe user is interested in information that has been received by theremote controller 1, he can refer to it later without haste. Further, byaccessing the homepage of the seller or manufacturer of the commodity byusing the personal computer 3, more detailed information of thecommodity can be obtained. Still further, as for purchasing of thecommodity, coupon information may be stored in the IC card 2 bydepressing the store button 106. By bringing the IC card 2 to, forinstance, a proper store, the commodity can be purchased at a lowerprice than the ordinary price.

[0129] Although in the above embodiment the television receiver 9automatically transmits commercial information, the invention is notlimited to such a case. For example, the television receiver 9 maytransfer commercial information only when receiving a transfer requestfrom the remote controller 1.

[0130] Another embodiment is possible in which commercial information isclassified into a plurality of categories and commercial information towhich information indicating its category is added is transmitted. Inthis embodiment, a category that is frequently referred to by the user(i.e., a category that is considered to attract his interest) may bestored in the RAM 1 c, and commercial information may be received andstored only when its category is the same as the category stored in theRAM 1 c.

[0131] Although the above embodiments are directed to the case of analogground-wave broadcast, the invention is not limited to such a case. Forexample, it goes without saying that the invention can also be appliedto satellite broadcast, digital broadcast, cable television broadcast,and the like.

[0132] Although in the above embodiments a communication is made betweenthe remote controller 1 and the personal computer 3, the televisionreceiver 9, or the VTR 13, a data communication may be made between thepersonal computer 3, the television receiver 9, and the VTR 13. Forexample, it is possible to make a recording reservation by converting,into an infrared signal, an EPG described in a homepage that is accessedby the personal computer 3 and then transmitting it to the VTR 13, forinstance.

[0133] Further, the invention can be applied to even current electricapparatuses by making commands that are transmitted from or received bythe remote controller correspond to SIRCS commands of respective makers.

[0134] In this specification, the term “transmission medium” includesnot only information recording media such as a FD and a CD-ROM but alsonetwork transmission media such as the Internet and a digital broadcastsatellite.

What is claimed is:
 1. A control device which controls, by transmittinga control signal to it, an electric apparatus that receives informationtransmitted via a transmission medium, comprising: transmitting meansfor transmitting the control signal to the electric apparatus; receivingmeans for receiving additional information that has been extracted fromthe received information and transmitted by the electric apparatus; andoutput means for outputting the additional information received by thereceiving means to a display device.
 2. The control device according toclaim 1 , wherein the additional information is an EPG that is includedin the information received by the electric apparatus.
 3. The controldevice according to claim 1 , wherein the additional information isadvertisement information that is included in the information receivedby the electric apparatus.
 4. The control device according to claim 1 ,further comprising: selecting means for selecting information from theadditional information received by the receiving means; and detachablestoring means for storing the information selected by the selectingmeans.
 5. The control device according to claim 1 , further comprising:second storing means for storing the additional information received bythe receiving means; second selecting means for selecting informationfrom the additional information stored in the second storing means; andsecond transmitting means for transmitting the information selected bythe second selecting means to a second electric apparatus.
 6. Thecontrol device according to claim 1 , further comprising notifying meansfor notifying a user of reception of the additional information when thereceiving means automatically receives the additional information.
 7. Acontrol method for controlling, by transmitting a control signal to it,an electric apparatus that receives information transmitted via atransmission medium, comprising: a transmitting step of transmitting thecontrol signal to the electric apparatus; a receiving step of receivingadditional information that has been extracted from the receivedinformation and transmitted by the electric apparatus; and an outputstep of outputting the additional information received in the receivingstep to a display device.
 8. A transmission medium for transmitting acomputer program that is used in a control device which controls, bytransmitting a control signal to it, an electric apparatus that receivesinformation transmitted via a transmission medium, the computer programcomprising: a transmitting step of transmitting the control signal tothe electric apparatus; a receiving step of receiving additionalinformation that has been extracted from the received information andtransmitted by the electric apparatus; and an output step of outputtingthe additional information received in the receiving step to a displaydevice.
 9. A control method comprising the steps of: storing thecomputer program transmitted from the transmission medium according toclaim 8 ; and performing a control by using the computer program.
 10. Anelectric apparatus which receives information that is transmitted via atransmission medium and performs an operation in accordance with acontrol signal that is transmitted from a control device, comprising:first receiving means for receiving the control signal transmitted fromthe control device; control means for performing a control in accordancewith the control signal received by the first receiving means; secondreceiving means for receiving the information transmitted via thetransmission medium; extracting means for extracting additionalinformation from the information received by the second receiving means;and transmitting means for transmitting the additional informationextracted by the extracting means to the control device.
 11. A controlmethod of an electric apparatus which receives information that istransmitted via a transmission medium and performs an operation inaccordance with a control signal that is transmitted from a controldevice, comprising: a first receiving step of receiving the controlsignal transmitted from the control device; a control step of performinga control in accordance with the control signal received in the firstreceiving step; a second receiving step of receiving the informationtransmitted via the transmission medium; an extracting step ofextracting additional information from the information received in thesecond receiving step; and a transmitting step of transmitting theadditional information extracted in the extracting step to the controldevice.
 12. A transmission medium for transmitting a computer programused in an electric apparatus which receives information that istransmitted via a transmission medium and performs an operation inaccordance with a control signal that is transmitted from a controldevice, the computer program comprising: a first receiving step ofreceiving the control signal transmitted from the control device; acontrol step of performing a control in accordance with the controlsignal received in the first receiving step; a second receiving step ofreceiving the information transmitted via the transmission medium; anextracting step of extracting additional information from theinformation received in the second receiving step; and a transmittingstep of transmitting the additional information extracted in theextracting step to the control device.
 13. A control method of anelectric apparatus, comprising the steps of: storing the computerprogram transmitted from the transmission medium according to claim 12 ;and controlling the electric apparatus by using the computer program.14. An electric apparatus system comprising an electric apparatus whichreceives information that is transmitted via a transmission medium and acontrol device which controls the electric apparatus by transmitting acontrol signal to the electric apparatus, the electric apparatuscomprising: first receiving means for receiving the control signaltransmitted from the control device; control means for performing acontrol in accordance with the control signal received by the firstreceiving means; second receiving means for receiving the informationtransmitted via the transmission medium; extracting means for extractingadditional information from the information received by the secondreceiving means; and first transmitting means for transmitting theadditional information extracted by the extracting means to the controldevice, the control device comprising: second transmitting means fortransmitting the control signal to the electric apparatus; thirdreceiving means for receiving the additional information transmittedfrom the first transmitting means of the electric apparatus; and outputmeans for outputting the additional information received by the thirdreceiving means to a display device.
 15. A control method of an electricapparatus system comprising an electric apparatus which receivesinformation that is transmitted via a transmission medium and a controldevice which controls the electric apparatus by transmitting a controlsignal to the electric apparatus, an electric-apparatus-side part of thecontrol method comprising: a first receiving step of receiving thecontrol signal transmitted from the control device; a control step ofperforming a control in accordance with the control signal received inthe first receiving step; a second receiving step of receiving theinformation transmitted via the transmission medium; an extracting stepof extracting additional information from the information received inthe second receiving step; and a first transmitting step of transmittingthe additional information extracted in the extracting step to thecontrol device, a control-device-side part of the control methodcomprising: a second transmitting step of transmitting the controlsignal to the electric apparatus; a third receiving step of receivingthe additional information transmitted in the first transmitting step ofthe electric-apparatus-part of the control method; and an output step ofoutputting the additional information received in the third receivingstep to a display device.
 16. A transmission medium for transmitting acomputer program used in an electric apparatus system comprising anelectric apparatus which receives information that is transmitted via atransmission medium and a control device which controls the electricapparatus by transmitting a control signal to the electric apparatus, anelectric-apparatus-side part of the computer program comprising: a firstreceiving step of receiving the control signal transmitted from thecontrol device; a control step of performing a control in accordancewith the control signal received in the first receiving step; a secondreceiving step of receiving the information transmitted via thetransmission medium; an extracting step of extracting additionalinformation from the information received in the second receiving step;and a first transmitting step of transmitting the additional informationextracted in the extracting step to the control device, acontrol-device-side part of the computer program comprising: a secondtransmitting step of transmitting the control signal to the electricapparatus; a third receiving step of receiving the additionalinformation transmitted in the first transmitting step of theelectric-apparatus-part of the control method; and an output step ofoutputting the additional information received in the third receivingstep to a display device.
 17. A control method of an electric apparatussystem, comprising the steps of: storing the computer programtransmitted from the transmission medium according to claim 16 ; andcontrolling the electric apparatus system by using the computer program.18. The control device according to claim 4 , wherein the detachablestoring means is an IC card.
 19. The control device according to claim 4, further comprising erasing means for erasing the information stored inthe detachable storing means.
 20. The control device according to claim1 , wherein the control device instructs the electric apparatus totransmit the additional information.
 21. The control device according toclaim 1 , further comprising notifying means for notifying a user ofreception of the additional information when the receiving meansreceives the additional information that is transmitted in response toan instruction that was issued from the control device.
 22. The electricapparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the electric apparatus is apersonal computer.
 23. The electric apparatus according to claim 10 ,wherein the electric apparatus is a television receiver.
 24. Theelectric apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the electricapparatus is a recording apparatus.
 25. The control device according toclaim 1 , wherein the output means outputs that part of the additionalinformation which relates to a channel of current reception of theelectric apparatus.
 26. The control device according to claim 1 ,wherein the output means outputs that part of the additional informationwhich relates to information that will be received by the electricapparatus from a present time onward.
 27. The control device accordingto claim 5 , wherein the second electric apparatus is a recordingapparatus, and wherein the recording apparatus performs a recordingreservation based on the information transmitted from the controldevice.
 28. The control device according to claim 3 , wherein theadvertisement information includes coupon information.
 29. The controldevice according to claim 3 , wherein the advertisement informationincludes URL information.
 30. The control device according to claim 4 ,wherein the additional information is advertisement information that isincluded in the information received by the electric apparatus, andwherein the advertisement information is stored in a prescribed area ofthe detachable storing means.
 31. The control device according to claim5 , wherein the second electric apparatus is a personal computer, andwherein the personal computer accesses a server based on the informationtransmitted from the control device.
 32. The control device according toclaim 1 , further comprising category storing means for storing acategory favored by a user, wherein the receiving means receives onlythat part of the additional information transmitted from the electricapparatus which belongs to the category stored in the category storingmeans.